Tank carrier



D. KIGGINS TANK CARRIER Oct. 22, 1940.

Filed May 2,` 1940 Juv nvc Daefe He/N5 v Patented Oct. 22, 12940 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to a tank carrier,

An object of the'invention is to providea carrier of the characterdescribed specially designed for use in carrying cylindrical containerssuch as acetylene tanks, oxygen bottles and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier shaped toloosely surround a cylindrical container and composed of pivotallyconnected clamp jaws having outwardly extended handles and effective tofrictionally engage and hold the container when the weight of thecontainer is supported from the handles.

Acetylene tanks, oxygen bottles and the like are usually of such weightas to make them very diflicult to handle particularly where it isnecessary to transport them from place to place. They are usually tooheavy to be handled by one workman and are of such shape as toI make itdiicult for two workmen to transport them with safety. It is an objectof the present invention to provide a carrier that may be readilyengaged with and released from the container and by means of which theload may be easily transported by two workmen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carrier that may bereadily fitted to and brought into engagement with containers of variousdiameters. v l

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particularrelation to certain novel features of construction, operation andarrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a side View ofthe carrier as applied to the container tobe carried.k

Figure 2 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, side y View, partly in sectionshowing the inner gripping jaw in its inner position. v

Figure 3 shows afragmentary, plan view, partly in section, showing theinner gripping jaw in active position, and

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary, plan View, partly in section, showing theinner gripping jaw in its outer, or inactive, position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals ofreference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeralsI, I designate outer, arcuate clamp jaws, each having central, outwardlyextended, sleeve bearings 2, 2. outwardly extended handles 3, 3 workthrough said bearings and have the inner, arcuate jaws, 4, 4 fixed onthe inner ends thereof.

One end of each outer jaw I is outwardly offset and the correspondingend of the other outer jaw is fitted against the inner side of saidoffset portion and is pivotally connected theretoby the bolt 5, saidbolts being in axial alignment and thus pivotally connecting the jaws I,I together.

Each jaw I has an inside, arcuate, countersunk recess 6 extending eachway beyond the corresponding bearing 2 to receive the correspondinginner jaw 4 when the latter is in inactive position. Each sleeve bearing2 has an inside, keyway 'l and each handle 3 has a corresponding key 8which isl tted into said keyway when the inner jaw 4 is seated in itscorresponding countersunk portion 6 as shown in Figure 4.

When the inner jaws 4 are in their inactive positions the carrier may befitted over a container such as 9. The'inside diameter of the assembledportion I, I is slightly larger than the outside diameter. of thecontainer 9 so that the carrier may be readily fitted thereover. Uponupward movement of the handles 3, in the act of lifting the containerthe outer, or clamp, jaws I, I will frictionally engage and securelygrip the container so that it may be readily, easily, and safely carriedabout. When the container is landed in the desired location the handlesmay be then moved slightly downwardly and brought into f alignment andthe carrier then easily lifted off of the container.

Should it be desired to apply the carrier toa smaller container thehandles 3 and jaws 4 may be moved inwardly and turned half way aroundand the outer ends of the keys 8 seated in the corresponding notchesIll. The inner jaws 4 will thus be held in their inner position as shownin Figure 3 so as to readily engage a container of a smaller size asshown in Figures 2 and 3.

It will be noted that the handles 3 are provided with pinbearingsl I andthe sleeves 2 have corresponding bearings I2. If it be desired to applythe carrier to a container of still smaller size the jaws 4 may be movedfurther inwardly untilthe bearings II are aligned with the bearings I2and the pins I3 then inserted through said aligned bearings. These pinsare maintained against loss by flexible tie members I4, I4 attached tothe jaws I and also to said pins.

The drawing and description are illustrative merely, while the broadprinciple of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

l about an approximately common axis, said jaws having aligned bearings,handles through the bearings and arcuate inner jaws on the inner ends ofthe handles.

2. A carrier comprising arcuate outer jaws whose free ends are pivotallyconnected together about an approximately common axis, said jaws havingaligned bearings, handles through the bearings, arcuate inner jaws onthe inner ends of the handles, and means for retaining the inner jaws inposition radially inwardly from the outer jaws.

3. A carrier comprising arcuate clamp jaws whose ends are pvotallyconnected together, each jaw having a radial bearing intermediate itsends, handles working through said bearings, an arcuate inner jaw on theinner end of each handle, said handles being adjustable inwardly throughsaid bearings and means for retaining the handles at selected points ofadjustment.

4. A carrier for cylindrical containers comprising arcuate clamp jawswhose free ends are pivotally connected together, eacli jaw having aradial bearing intermediate its ends and an inside, countersunk recessadjacent said bearing, handles extended throughsaid bearings, arcuateinner jaws on the inner ends of the handles adjustable into inactiveposition into the corresponding recesses and adjustable radiallyinwardly into active position and means for retaining the inner jaws insaid active position.

5. A carrier for cylindrical objects comprising arcuate outer jaws whosefree .ends are pivoted together, handles radially adjustable in saidjaws, arcuate inner jaws on the inner ends of the handles and means forsecuring said handles at selected points of adjustment.

DELBERT KIGGINS.

